Environmental Hygiene it is a concept related to the preservation of the sanitary conditions of the environment in order to prevent it from harming human health.
Thus, environmental hygiene presupposes caution in relation to chemical, physical and biological factors external to the individual. Since these factors can have an impact on health, the aim of environmental hygiene is to prevent disease by creating healthy spaces.
Environmental hygiene must ensure the health of both current and future generations. Some areas of environmental hygiene activities are: disinfection (to control bacteria, pests and organisms that are harmful to health), fumigation, disinfestation and rat extermination.
In the hypothetical house of an individual spilling toxic waste on a certain street, the State is responsible for cleaning the place by contacting companies specializing in environmental hygiene. Thus, individuals who pass through the site are not allowed to become ill due to exposure to these residues.
Environmental hygiene in the kitchen
In order to prevent food from becoming vehicles for disease transmission, we must take the following precautions:
- Do not thaw food at room temperature. Defrosting must be done at refrigeration temperature or with the food under running water in a clean and disinfected place;
- Immediately use the thawed food and do not refreeze it;
- Foods such as (pasta, meat, sandwich fillings, etc.), must be well stored, taking into account that they need protection against insects, dust and other harmful agents;
- The trash cans used in the kitchen must have a pedal, lid and plastic bags to keep any pests (rats, cockroaches, etc.) away. In this way, you also avoid touching the garbage lid with your hand, contaminating it;
- Waste must be properly stored in a proper place for its final removal.
The World Health Organization has identified the main flaws in daily habits that can cause food contamination, including:
- Food preparation long before consumption;
- Ready-made foods are often left in contact with room temperature for a long time (for example: on the stove or inside the oven);
- Poor or insufficient cooking;
- Cross contamination (mixture of raw and cooked foods. Ex: use the same bowl or the same knife to cut two different foods);
- Contaminated people preparing food.
Environmental Hygiene and Disease Development
The lack of environmental hygiene can occur with the improper deposit in the environment of organic and industrial waste, polluting gases, material objects, chemical elements, etc.
Environmental pollution disrupts the proper functioning of ecosystems, killing various animal and plant species. Human beings are also harmed by this type of action, as they need a lot of water, air and soil resources to live with quality of life and maintain good health. When these three environments are polluted, diseases develop, some of which are exemplified below:
Diseases transmitted through the Water - Gastroenteritis, Amebiasis, Giardiasis, Typhoid Fever, Cholera, Leptospirosis, Verminosis (schistosomiasis or schistosis);
Diseases transmitted through the ground - Tetanus and Verminosis (ascariasis, taeniasis, cysticercus, oxyurosis, hookworm or yellowing)
Diseases transmitted through the air - .Allergic diseases (bronchitis, rhinitis and asthma)
Polluted air can contain particles that can cause serious health problems. In addition to polluting materials, the air can also contain different types of disease-causing microorganisms. Taking this fact into account, we now mention some diseases caused by viruses and bacteria.
Diseases caused by virus - (cold, flu), other viruses (mumps, measles, rubella, polio, chickenpox)
Diseases caused by bacteria - (tuberculosis, meningococcal meningitis, bacterial pneumonia, whooping cough)
Environmental Hygiene in Early Childhood Education
It is known that good environmental hygiene in the future also depends on the education that is given to children and young people today. Therefore, in many schools, environmental hygiene has been a topic discussed with students so that they can:
- understand that health is a right for all and a key part of human growth and development;
- understand that the health condition is a result of relationships with the physical, economic and sociocultural environment, knowing how to identify factors that affect personal and collective health in the environment where they live;
- know and use ways to intervene individually and collectively on factors harmful to health, acting responsibly in relation to their health and the health of the individuals around them;
- know ways to access community resources and the possibilities of using services aimed at promoting, protecting and restoring health;
- adopt self-care habits, respecting the possibilities and limits of the body.
Environmental Hygiene at Work
It is very important to keep the work environment as hygienic and healthy as possible, as many people spend a large part of their day in this environment.
These are some points aimed at raising the awareness of subjects so that they can create a clean environment, which is a guarantee of health and safety at work.
- Do not eat in the work sectors;
- Do not leave traces of food on the floor or on equipment and machines;
- Use hygienic containers to drink water;
- Do not leave personal protective equipment on the floor or on machines.
